Box of foldable sheet material



Oct. 29, 1957 c, JONES 2,811,298

BOX OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 J V 6/ E 'o6booo. f 3 fog 9o Q Q; z L i j L INVENTOR. GEO/L T- JONES ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1957 c. T. JONES 2,811,293

BOX OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CEO/L T. JONES 3 I v BY ATTORNEY BOX or FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL Cecil T. Jones, Modesto, Calif, assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 29, 1955, Serial No. 504,749

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates to foldable paper boxes, and more particularly to such boxes which may be formed by folding panels from an integral substantially rectangular blank with a minimum waste of material, and which provides strong reinforcement where needed, and which, when folded, locks itself in box form by interfit of its parts without the necessity for gluing or stapling.

While the preferred material is sheet corrugated paper board, any other suitable type of foldable sheet material may likewise be employed.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a substantially rectangular integral foldable paper blank having slits and scored fold lines forming panels which, when folded, provide a box having walls at sides and ends, a bottom and a two-flap closure top, the top flaps being preferably scored or perforated for severance removal, and the walls providing a plurality of overlying panels for structural strength, the panels in'the end walls preferably being relatively spaced, providing an air space for insulation, refrigeration or ventilation, said spaced end walls preferably having an opening therein for a hand grip, and the panels interfitting relatively whereby the box may be readily folded, and the panels locked upon themselves in such form or folded position into a rigid box structure of great strength.

One object of the invention is to provide a foldable box from a single integral blank which, when folded, is self-locking, strongly reinforced in its vertical dimensions to carry a relatively heavy superimposed load when stacked, and highly resistant to rough handling in shipment.

Another object is to provide a reinforced foldable paper box with readily removable cover panels, and

which has insulating space and ventilating vents within its walls, and with hand grip openings for ease of handling.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the specifications of one form of the invention which is described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings to which reference is made.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the box of the invention is formed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box panels in partly folded position. 1

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box panels in a further folded position, as compared to Fig. 2, two panels being shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the completely folded box with cover panels closed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the completely folded box with cover panels open and showing the interior.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 66,

of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference charbitates Patent Patented Oct. 29, 1957 and referring'firstly to Fig. 1, the reference character 21 indicates generally an integral blank of foldable sheet material, such as corrugated paper board or the like, which, it will be noted, is generally rectangular in plan without substantial loss of material in forming its several panels. The blank is divided into panels by appropriate slits and score lines for bending upon itself into box-forming relation, the slits separating panels being shown in full lineand the scored fold lines'being shown in broken lines.

Centrally of the blank is a rectangular bottom panel 22 having slots 23 therethrough adjacently spaced from opposite edges, which in the folded box are the end edges. Arranged around the four perimeter edges of the rectangular bottom panel are four sections of panels, a, b, c, and d, which are separated relatively by slits e, the panel section-s being integral with the bottom panel at the four scored fold lines 25a, 35a, 45a and 50a. Each section is divided into several relatively foldable rectangular panels which provide respective sidewalls, end walls and top for the box.

The number and purpose of the several panels in the sections a and b are similar, though the arrangement of the panels therein is varied; and likewise, the number and purpose of the several panels in the sections 0 and d are similar, though the arrangement thereof is varied. At this point of description these composite panel sections cannot be referred to in the usual conventional manner of side sections and end sections, because each of the sections a, b, c and d include both side and end panels in the completed folded box, and the top panels are also included in the sections a and Having noted the foregoing'observations of the sec: tions, the sections a and b each compriseopposite sidewall panels 25 and 35 each of which has one longitudinal edge adjoining the bottom panel at score lines 25a and 35a, the opposite edge of each of said sidewallpanels. 25, 35 having integrally and fo'ldably connected to its opposite longitudinal edge a top closure flap panel 26 and 36, at foldable score lines 26a and 3641. At the opposite ends of each top closure panelthere is a slit 1'' which maintains the said closure panels free for folding. Adjacently spaced from the score lines 26a and 36a the sidewall panels 25 and 35 each has a weakened tear line 27 and 37 which are parallel to and adjacently spaced from the score lines 26a and 36a. The tear lines may 'be heavily scored or finely perforated, or substituted by a tearable strip of adhesive tape to permit tearing of the top closure panels from the box for display purposes when the box is opened. The side wall panels 25, 35 each has connected at its opposite ends, as by the respective scored fold lines 29a, 32a, and 39a, 44a, certain end panel sections which are referred to as supplemental end panels, since they fold within the other end panels in the completely formed box.

Since the sections a and b are similar except for the diagonal transposition of similar panels in the blank (such as relatively diagonal panels 29, 39 and panels 32 and 44) it is believed one description is sufficient, using panel 25 of section a as the example, and showing the related elements of section b in parentheses.

At thescore lines 29a (39a) at one end of each of the panels 25 (35) there are connected thereto supplemental end panels 29 (39) which are substantially the full length of the end of the box. To a longitudinal edge of the panels 29 (39) there are connected spacer panels 30 (40) by fold score lines 30a (40a). The op posite longitudinal edges of the spacer panels have connected thereto inert supplemental end panels 31 (41),. as by fold score lines 31a (41a).

At the opposite ends of therespective panels25 (35),

v there are connected semi or substantially half-lengthsup J plementaL panels 32. (44 asat fold score lines 32a. (44a); and to a longitudinal edge of panels 32 (44) there is connected semi or half-length spacer panels 33 (fly-at: fold score lines wee/( 4311).1 At the opposite longitudinal: edges as the respectivespaeee panels 33 (439 there; are connected semi! on halfi-length ihner supple mental2panel34 42 )1 by 'fold score-lines 34h- (4Ea.)l- Y Eollowingz the: foregoing manner of d'es'crihin'g the rela' tively opposite panel section's, the' p'a-nel sections c andd panels 48: and1532 Usin'g a si'rnilar'system of desc 'riptiom andi using: section as: the =basi's fon description, there: are outer end panels 45 (50), connected todhe' respective oppnsiteaendzedgesiofibouom anel-22, at -fo'ld score'lihes SZcmaybe folded down. into the box. on the respectivescore lines 46a, 47a and 51a, 52a, whereby the panels 45, 47 and 50, 52 overlie eachopposite face of the previously folded end panels, the spacer panels 46 and 51 overlying the previously folded spacer panels, whereupon the locking tongues 62 onthe opposite end panels 31, 47 and 41, 52 may be locked into the slots 23, the end panels 47and52 thusbecoming the inner end panels with- 45a: (50m), and atltheopposite edges of the r'e'spec tive 1 panels45 50) there are connected spacer anels 46 ('51' atafold scoreb lines146a (5111 At the resp'ec'tive opposite edges ofi the-spacer panels 46' (51*) there are connectedinner' end panels- 47 (52 as at fold score lines 47a (52a),- and at one end of' each of the inner end panels 47 (52') there are connected supplemental sidewall wing panels 48' (53), by fold-scorelines-48a- (53a);

It will benoted that the end panels 29, 32, 39-, 44, 4S and 50 each has an elongated'slot 60 centrally thereof, which, when the box isformed', overlie in register in respective panels at opposite ends of the box to provide whandgripateach end of the box. Each of the and panels 31 34,41, 42, 47'and 52 may, if desired; have ventilating orifices oropenings 61 therethrough, and since, when the box is formed, thesepanels overlie-the plane" of the panels having the hand-grip slots, and are spaced therefrom by the spacer panels 30, 33, 40, 43,46 and 51 there is provided a chamber in the end walls having ventilating openings for the interior of the box, or Dry Ice refrigerant maybe received in said space. Thepanels 31 41, 47 and 52' may be provided with an extended locking tongue 62, at the outer longitudinal edge thereof for releasably entering the slots 23- when the box is formed, and the cover closure fiaps'26- and 36' may have indentations 28 and 38 in the free longitudinal edges forconvenience in lifting said cover closure flaps, regardless of whether said flapsbe severed from the'b'ox on thetearllines 27, 37.

In bending theseveral panels ofthe blank into bo'x forming relation, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3", theunits ofpanels in sections a and b are folded upwardly on.

scored lines 25a and 3521 whereupon the semi or' half" panel'st34" and 42 are folded inward and downward on. thescore lines 34a and 42aand again folded on score lines 33d and 43a to overlie the respective lialf' panels 32, 44', whereby the spacerpanels 33 and 43 maintainai space between said overlying half panels. The half panel units are then folded inwardly on score lines 3221 and 44a at aright angle so that theyare'sub'stantially aligned over some lines 45a and 50a, and'thusbecorne sections of the oppositeend walls of the box; Thisupwardfolde ing of sections a and I) also raises thepanels' 25 and 35 vertically to become the opposite outer side walls of the box, with-the coverfiappanels'26', 36 connectedthere to at the respective fold lines 26a and 36a;

The next successive operation is to fold the units of panels 29, 30, 31 and 39, 40, 41' inwardly ata right'angle on the respective score'lines 29a and" 39a, and bend. the panels 31 and 41 down into the box on therespective score lines 30a and 40a and again on score lines 31a and 41a, the spacer panels 30 and 40 overlying the previously folded spacer panels 33 and 43, the panels 39 and 41 overlying the previously folded half panels 42 and 44,,and the panels 29 and 31 overlying the previously folded halfpanels 32 and 34. at opposite ends. of the box.

The next operation is to fold upwardly the units of the panel" sections c and d! on score lines, 45a and" 50a. whereby. the end panel units 45, 46, 47' andTSO, 5 1, 52

opposite ends of the box; whereupon the panels 47 and in the folded box.

Inthev operation of folding the panel sections c and d; the wing panels 48 and 53 which are connected to inner end panels 47, 52, at score lines 48a and 53a, respectively, are folded backwardly as shown by broken lines-in Fig. 3, whereby, when panels 48 and 53 are intially folded into the box they would overlie the face of end panels 47 and 52. However, the wing panels 48 and 53 are in reality supplemental sidewall panels and, when within the formed box; they may then, respectively, be folded on score lines 4811 and53'a, to parallelly overlie the oppositesid'e wall panels 25 and 35, in superficial contact therewith, their'height being sufficiently less than=the height of said sidewall panels so that the upper edge of said supplemental sidewall panels 48, 53, substantially register parallel with the tear lines 27' and 37 of the closureflaps. Thus, whenthe cover flaps are torn free on said tear lines, anopen and free sightdisplay maybe made of the top layer of contents and including a" portion of the side view of the upper layer of the contents of the box. The length of said supplemental sidewall panels 48, 53 is preferably the same asthe length of the inner exposed face of the side walls, which manifestly is the total innerlongitudinal dimension of the side walls minus the thick-- ness of the endwalls as defined by the combined width of the spacer panels 46 and 51 of the inner end panels which are the last of the end panels folded into thebox; Wherefore, these supplemental sidewall wing panels 48', 53 extend from end to end of the inner exposed face dimension of the side walls of the box and provide a double'thickness of sidewalls for strength,-and' also pr-m vide a brace to hold the relatively opposed inner end panels 47, 52 in place.

When the body of the box is'so formed rectangularly; I as shown in Fig. 5, itisobvious that the cover closure.

fiaps 26, 36 may be bent on score lines 26a; 36a toa closing position asshown in Fig. 4: Whenit" is desired toopenthe box it is manifest that the closure cover flaps 26 and 36may" bereadily' lifted as shown in Fig. 5, either with or without the use of finger-grip insets28, 38, and if desired; may be-removed by severance on tear liiies- 27, 37.

From the foregoing description in connection with'tli'e drawings, itwill be seen that a box has been formed" which effectively utilizes all material in a substantially rectangular blank and in which there are six'panel's of overlying'material for vertical support in each end wall of the-box, each of said composite end walls consisting of threelayers ofpanels'in overlying superficiali contact constituting an outer section of end walls and threelayers inoverlying superficial contact constituting an inner section of end walls, said outer and inner sections being overlyingand relatively spaced by' the spacer panels, the outer section preferablyv havingregistered hand grip openings 60 therethrough, and the inner section. preferably having registered ventilating orifices 61 therethrough, the box having a double wall at its sides, and having top cover'flaps or panels which may be removed on a Y plurality of integral panels relatively foldable from a blank including a rectangular bottom panel having lock slots adjacent opposite ends, relatively opposite side walls having one edge connected to the bottom panel and having top closure panels connected to the opposite edge, and relatively opposite end panels having a plurality of layers of pairs of end panels the planes of which overlie relatively, said end wall panels having spacer panels be tween pairs thereof whereby said end wall panels are in spaced relation providing a chamber therebetween, one of said end wall panels being an inner panel at each end of the box and having a locking tongue engageable in said lock slots of the bottom panel, a pair of supplemental side wing panels each having one end foldably connected by score lines to an end of one of said inner end wall panels, said supplemental side wing panels being of a length adapted for folding on such score lines to extend the entire length of the exposed face of the side wall of the box between the relatively opposed faces of the end walls of the box, said top closure panels being connected to the side wall panels along a weakened tear line in the side wall panel of the box adjacently spaced from the score line of the top panels, and said supplemental side wall panels being of a height substantially equal to the height of the side wall panels below the weakened tear line.

2. A foldable integral blank for folding into boxforrning relation comprising, in a flat plane, a generally rectangular blank including a rectangular bottom panel having score-line connection thereto at each peripheral side thereof of a foldable section of panels, said foldable sections each including side wall panels and end wall panels relatively scored and slitted for forming into box-forming relation, the end wall panels in each of said sections having therebetween elongated relatively narrow spacer panels whereby the end wall panels in that section may be relatively folded to overlie in spaced relation when the blank is folded into box-forming relation and provide end walls at each end of the box having a chamber within relatively spaced end wall panels, two of said sections in said blank being relatively opposite and each including a side wall panel and a top closure panel, a pair of supplemental side wall wing panels each having one of its ends connected at a score line to one end of an inner end panel, said supplemental wing panels each being foldable on said score line perpendicular to its connected inner end panel, the said wing panels having a length which, when added to the combined width of the two spacer panels of the two inner end wall panels, is substantially equal to the length of the side Wall panels, whereby said supplemental wing panels may be folded to overlie substantially the entire length of the inner exposed face of the side walls between said inner end panels in the folded box, said side wall panels respectively having a weakened tear line adjacently spaced from the fold score line of the top panel, and the supplemental side wall Wing panels being of a transverse width substantially similar to the transverse width of the side wall panels between said weakened tear line and the opposite edge of the side wall panel which is connected to the bottom panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,007,520 Daller July 9, 1935 2,196,502 Kells Apr. 9, 1940 2,454,573 Scher Nov. 23, 1948 2,468,951 Barter May 3, 1949 2,547,892 Stevens Apr. 3, 1951 2,637,484 Buttery May 5, 1953 2,698,125 Vizcarrondo et al Dec. 28, 1954 2,698,126 Belsinger Dec. 28, 1954 

